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ObamaCare…It’s time to care!

As soon as the world figured out that CNN and Fox had gotten today’s Supreme Court decision embarrassingly wrong, and the Affordable Care Act had indeed survived, the political prognostications commenced. Yeah, sure, millions will now get or keep health insurance. Lives will be saved and improved, yadda yadda. So now let’s move on to what really matters: Who benefits politically?

Conservatives, freshly aflame with the cause of restoring liberty to the land, are sure it’s them. Bill Kristol opined: “Obamacare survives on June 28, 2012. It falls on November 6, 2012.” Sarah Palin offered the Court (and the Lord) profound thanks: “This ‘Obamacare’ ruling fires up the troops as America’s eyes are opened! Thank God.” Nothing fires up those troops, of course, like that old bogeyman of liberal tax increases—and in keeping the ACA alive by declaring that the “individual mandate” could only be imposed by Congress through its power of taxation, Chief Justice John Roberts handed the right a new rallying cry. “What we have now,” said Rush Limbaugh, “is the biggest tax increase in the history of the world.” It’s a false formulation, of course—but try telling that to the Tea Partiers waving their Gadsden flags outside the Supreme Court building.

How does this benefit Mitt Romney, though? Perhaps the grassroots right will be more fired up to back him—but then again, there couldn’t be more than a handful of Tea Partiers who planned to sit out Election Day and blow their chance to cast an anti-Obama vote. And Romney has powerful incentives not to make the ACA a central issue. As Paul Waldman notes, he’s always been uncomfortable with the subject—something about an individual mandate in Massachusetts, if we’re not mistaken? And the more Romney raises the issue, the more President Obama can fire back: This other guy wants to take away the many benefits of the program. As we saw today, Obama has finally learned how to explain those benefits in a clear and compelling manner.

The likely upshot? Neither candidate gains many voters—or loses them. As Jamelle Bouie writes, the only clear “winners today were the uninsured.” Which is ample reason to stop obsessing over the presidential horse race for a minute—and celebrate an uncomplicated victory for millions of Americans.

With the passing of the Obamacare health plan through Congress, a politcal war has just begun…Actually, wait a minute, that started 4 years ago…what we have now is the continuation of such war, that will last beyond November 2012 regardless of who ends up in the White House. What I urge people to do is take the time to review and research all aspects of the Obamacare plan and truly gain a sense of self-understanding of how this will impact our economy and society. Yes, there will be some drawbacks, but what good has ever been done, what victory ever achieved with sacrifice and struggle? BBS will continue to follow the reports, commentary, and facts of this new legislation. Please continue to provide your thoughts & comments. The American Prospect is one place to look for commentary and to follow this and other politcal topics.